The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-16


Edelen, OF the came church, and the
Rev. Father Vesle, pastor Of st. Pat
rick's church,
Rev. Father william walsh
Preached the sermon, taking for his
text the following:
"And He took great stone, and set
it under the osk, that was in the
sanctuary OF the Lord, and He said to
all the people, Behold this stone shall
be testimony uuto you, that it hath
heard all the words of the Lord which
| He hath spoken to you, lest, perhaps,
hereafter you will deny it, and lie to
the Lord your God. "-Joshua xiv,
26
Joshua had gathered the people
together TO speak to them the words
of the Lord aud cause His covenant 10
be again renewed between them. 1t
was done, and, before Hs "wes gath
cred to His fatf er, Hs took the great
stone mentioned in the text, and He
made it q stone of record. 1t was set
up as a testimony OF the covenant,
which henceforth none OF the children
OF Israel could consistently deny. So
in q manner was the stone,
about to be placed in position hers
was to serve 80 testimony OF the &C.
cssion which brought them together.
1t was u significant one, the principles
OF which the Catholic Church is the
herald, the freedom OF which the
statute OF these United States is a safe.
guard, as the beDevolence and geDer-
osity which characterize the citizsns
of this great Republic. all find express
sion on this occasion. The Catholic
Church, ss the church Of Jesus Christ,
received the commiss on and the power
to teach all nations; "all truths-what.
soever tie Divine Redeemer com.
mandsth." Catholic is her name, and
its influence should be universal.
AS this orb we inhabit is, in
its every part, illumined at
intervals by the sun, the emblem OF
omnipotence in the heavens, 80
should the world of the humanity, the
thoughts which are the source of
human acts, and the atmosphere OF the
spirit in which we move and live, be
Influenced and directed by the Son OF
man and His law. They should have
sway everywhere. knowledge and
science should go hand in hand with
Christian truth. The church Is it's
guardian. Hence side by side with
the sacred edifce, raised 10 the living
God, for the sacrifice OF the "clean
oblatiop," rise the parish school of the
Catholic Church in every part of this
great land. The day was when the peo-
Pile of these United States were taught
that the Catholic Church was the en-
envy Of science and progress and the
foster mother OF ignorance aud super
stitioD, but the common sense Of
America would not be long fooled. 1t
has branded that psriod of her history
in which violence was offered the
Catholics of this country as "Know-
nothing days." Such they were. The
church has been found to be the
guardian and preserver of tcience and
knowledge, as is evidenced in the care
with which che has, thr ugh the monks
of old, preserved the documents and
antiquities handed down to US. Her
libraries contain treasures not yet dug
up by the most active modern re-
search. Almost all the re-
nowned universities of Europe owe
their origin and preservation
to the favor of the Catholic Church,
whose representatives first planted the
banner OF the cross in this new world.
These facts are fast coming home to
the mind of the American psople aud
occasions like the present manifest
them in bold relief. The progress of
Catholic institutions ia everywhere
evide at throughout the land. 1t keeps
pace with, II 1t does not outstfip that
of all our other institutions. Catholic
doctrines and practices fit into and
strengthen the foundations of Ameri-
can institutions. They are famed by
the breath Of trde liberty, which is
Catholic In its grasp by enccurag-
ing good as we'll as controlling vice.
In the working out of he principles
and American institutions the irhl-
ence and saving grace of the Catholic
Church are found most useful, if not
necessary, in the estimat on of every
citizen. The people OF this country
are characterized by more Of the gen.
eIal Catholic Instincts than are any
other people on the face OF the globe.
Hence the noble forms of benevolence
and generosity which rise up before
us. The Catholic Irish people are the
most Catholic in the world. They are
seen at the building up Of the Cstho-
lie institutions of every nationality.
Our non.Catholic fellow citizens are
also here today to Rtteet
their tolerant Catholic spirit, to maSe
known their benevolent dispositions
and to cheer us on in this noble work
of Christian morality and education.
The institution to be here erected
be their shrine. Its foundations
are digged deep into the earth, below
the grade on which the founda ions OF
this city are laid. 1t shall be the
doctrine taught in this school and
convent. 1t shall be planted deep in
the minds Of the rising generations,
moulding them tn the virtue which !
makes good citizenship. A great work |
is begun. Few would have the courage
OF the poor Frsnci, can Father, dig !
Ring such foundation for building |
that will take some $4,000 or $4,000 |
70 complete it. Yet because it begun
with the blessing of God, aud dee.
tined to his honor and glory the |
means to be perfect, it will come in
good. The noble generosity which
charscteriEss the Catholics of Men,
phis and its citizens generally will, in
the completion OF this structure, be
attested by another grand monument,
and the documents to be inserted in
the bed Of that corner stone.about to
lowered into position will be witness
to this solemn occasion When, per
baps, this fair city Of Memphis will
be in rnina lie Mem nhia Of old ON |